Long Beach is next up at West Marine US Open Sailing Series

West Marine US Open Sailing Series © US Sailing

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series continues the summer swing through California this week in Long Beach, one of the nation's most popular sailing locations.

The site of the Olympic Sailing competition for the 2028 LA Games will be in the spotlight as sailors in eight classes will race over three days on July 9 - 11, 2021. Men and women sailors will be racing the 29er, Finn, Foiling Kite, iQFoil, ILCA 7, ILCA 6, ILCA 4, and Nacra 17.

West Marine US Open Sailing Series - Long Beach is hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, and the US Sailing Center Long Beach. The regatta will be sailed in the waters of San Pedro Bay off Long Beach.

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series launched in January 2021 with a big splash in Florida over three events at major sailing venues in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Clearwater. This exciting new racing series resumed in San Diego on June 12 - 13 and racing was conducted in five classes. Read the Recap from San Diego.

Long Beach is the second of three stops on the California tour. Following the stop in Long Beach, the series continues up the California coastline to San Francisco on August 13 - 15, 2021.

Mike Van Dyke, Rear Commodore of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and Event Co-Chair, discussed the Long Beach sailing conditions and looks forward to competitive racing this week. "Long Beach is blessed with near perfect sailing conditions almost year-round," said Van Dyke. "The summer months, predictable sea breeze fills in the 12-18 knots range. Some might think this predictability removes some of the challenges of other venues, but it places a premium on boat handling and consistency of scores to come out on top."

Van Dyke also discussed the Olympic Sailing legacy in the Long Beach area. "Southern California has a long legacy of producing Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Due to the weather and the almost year-round ability to train, the presence of youth development organizations, like CISA, promoting pathways to international and Olympic competition, we continue to be a hub for those with Olympic aspirations."

"When Los Angeles expressed interest in bidding again for the games, it created excitement in the sailing community with the motivation to replicate the 1984 games. With US Sailing setting up base here for athletes to train under the guidance of Paul Cayard, as well as the local clubs, Long Beach Yacht Club, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, and US Sailing Center Long Beach, we are putting together an organizational structure to work under LA 2028."

Lisa Meier, Port Captain at LBYC and Event Co-Chair, also spoke of the history of Long Beach and Olympic Sailing. "Long Beach has a long history participating in the Summer Olympics! In 1932, the Southern California Yachting Association was given full authority to choose the "official games boat" and designated the Olympic Monotype Class. Again in 1984 Long Beach hosted Olympians from around the world. The yacht clubs and sailing centers of Long Beach joined forces along with hundreds of volunteers to spend years preparing for an outstanding Olympic Sailing venue and Games."

"Long Beach Yacht Club, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and The US Sailing Center Long Beach have joined together to assemble teams of dedicated volunteers from Southern California to prepare and host the regattas, tests and worlds in preparation for 2028. In 2024, after the Paris Olympics, the sailing world tilts in the direction of Long Beach. The community will be poised to welcome the world, preparing venues and connections that will have lasting positive effects on all who participate."

Official website: usopen.ussailing.org